Illuminated name-plate.



ltlhlTED snares PATENT ornion aosnrn r- KnEeEn, 0F ERIE, rENns LvAmA.

ILLUMINAIED NAME-PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented New. 5,1918.

Application filed January 15, 1918. Serial No. 211,974.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that ll, JOSEPH F. KREGER, a citizen of the United States, .residingat Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Illuminated Na1ne-Plate, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of this invention is a name plate such as is intended for use in the hallway of an apartment house or the like.

The invention contemplates providing a name plate with electric means for illuminating the plate when it is desired to read the name thereon.

Theinvention further contemplates lighting the plate from the regular electric current furnished, a transformer being interposed in the circuit for this purpose, or from exterior or self contained batteries.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and eflicient name plate.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a name plate constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2is a similar view with the front plate removed;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View.

Referring to the drawing by numerals of reference In carrying out the invention there is provided a suitable casing 1 the front of which is opened and provided with a laterally extending peripheral flange 2. Extending forwardly from the back of the casing 1 is a boss 3 which is cored to form a socket for the reception of a small electric light bulb 1 which is threaded or otherwise secured therein. The casing 'L is preferably made of electric light bulb 4:.

metal and securedwithin the casing, and to the back thereof, preferably by means of an eyelet 5, is a binding post 6 which is in metallic contact with the casing and consequently in circuit with one terminal ofthe Another binding-post 7 is secured to the back of the casing 1 by an eyelet 5 or otherwise, and insulation 8 is interposedbetween this binding-post and the casing l to keep the binding-most out of circuit with the casing and the light bulb. A metal strip 9 is in contact with the other terminal of the electric light bulb 4 and extends longitudinally of the casing 1 from which it is insulated by the insulating material 10. This strip terminates adjacent the binding-post 7 and at. this part of the strip a support 11 is formed which extends forwardly from the strip and upon which is slidably mounted a switch 12, of any suitable and preferred form. This switch is normally held in its forward or opened position by a compression spring 13 and may be actuated to contact the binding-post 7 and close the circuit by means of a push-button 1-1 or the like.

The front of the casing is closed by a plate 15 which has angularly disposed tongues 16 at one end of its rear face which are adapted to take into slots formed in one end of the casing 1 just behind the flange 2. At the other end of the plate 15 a lock 17 is secured the bolt 18 of which may be thrown into a slot formed in the other end of the casing 1. This serves to secure the front plate 15 to the casing 1.

The front plate 15 is provided with an opening 19 which is situated directly above the electric light bulb 4: and the longitudinal edges of which are turned or struck inwardly as indicated at 20 to form a reflector to direct rays of light from the bulb toward the translucent name card 21'which is held j in place within the opening by lugs 22 which button, if so desired. V l p Havingthus described the invention, what "is claimed as new andsought by Letters Patent, is 2 An illuminated name plate, including a casing havmg an opened front, a boss extending forwardly of the rear plate of the casing an'd forming a socket, an electric light bulb detachably secured in the socket and having one terminal in contact'withthe casing, a metal strip within the casing and inr sulated therefrom and in contactwith the other terminal 'of the bulb, an arm extending from 'the' -strip and forming'fa support, a

V Gopiesbf this patent may be obtainedfor switch slidable on the support, a bindingpost within the casing and insulated therefrom and adapted to be contacted by the switch, another binding-post within the casing and in contact therewith, a plate for closing the casing and having an opening, a name plate 1n the opening, means for securing the plate to the casing, and a push-button extending through the plate and in contact with the switch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH F. KREGER.

Vitnesses BERNARD M. FRoMKNEoH'r, DANIEL J .LIORICI-IAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, v VSTashington, D. 0. 

